Condenser fob metallubgical fuenaoes



(No Model.)

T. N. DAVEY.

CONDENSER FOR METALLURGICAL FURNACES ,716.

Patented Dec. 13,1881.

mm mm? 60 ittoria/ 310' UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

THOMAS N. DAVEY, OF (JARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

CONDENSER FOR METALLURGICAL FURNACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,716, dated December13, 1881. Application filed May 27, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS N. DAVEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oarthage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Condensers forMetallurgical Furnaces; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersor figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The present invention has reference to an apparatus for condensing thefumes of metallurgical furnaces, which would otherwise be lost anddisseminated in the atmosphere, to the detriment of health and thegrowth of vegetation.

Apparatuses for carrying out a like result have heretofore beenproposed,thefumesin such instances being conducted through a water bathfor precipitating volatilized metals contained in the same, andcondensing or neutralizing the deleterious gases.

The object of the present invention is to furnish a simple, cheap, andeffective apparatus possessing decided advantages over all other devicesof an analogous nature heretofore known, and it consists in theconstruction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully described, and then set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of acondensing apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan or topview thereof, the cover being removed. Fig. 3 is an end view.

The letter A designates a casing or box, which constitutes a water-tankand condensing-chamber, and is provided with an inclined or slopingbottom, B. This bottom extends the entire length of the water'chamber,and at its lower end are located a series of gates, D, which are usedfor the purpose of drawing off the precipitated metals or sedimentarymatters collected at the bottom of the condensingchamber. The fumespassing from a lead, silver, or other smelting furnace enter thecondensing apparatus through a pipe, E, located at the upper end of aninlet chamber, G. This inlet-chamber is formed at the end of the main orcondensing chamber by means of a board, F, depending from the cover H ofthe casing or box, or by extending the end wall of the apparatus theentire height thereof and constructin g the chamber of a short outerwall and sloping bottom, which are both attached to the main end wall,as is shown in the drawings. The chamber G has a perforated bottom ordiaphragm, G and communicates thereat with a compartmentor trunk, I,formedin the main chamber by means of a transverse board or partition,J, which is adj ustably secured to the side walls of the main chamberand carries several superposed screens or foraminous plates, K. Theboard J is fitted in grooves made in the side walls of the apparatus,and it has a vertical row of holes, which receive locking-pins I),passed through said side walls, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Anoutlet-opening, L, in the side wall of the apparatus permits the outflowof the water and maintains the proper level of water in the chamber, andan inlet water-pipe, M, is provided at any suitable point.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The fumes from a smeltingor metallurgical furnace are forced into the inlet or distributingchamber by means of a blower or fan, and as said chamber communicateswith the main water-chamber the water-level in the inletchamber is abovethe screen-bottom thereof. In this manner the fumes are exposed to alarge water-surface and caused to enter the same before passing throughthe perforated bottom or first screen-plate. The function of the latteris to break or sift up the otherwise large globules of air and fumesbefore the entrance thereof into the screen-chamber. The submergedscreens or submerged plates in this chamber cause the fumes to bethoroughly disseminated and brought into complete contact with the waterin the tank, which will eliminate and condense the volatilizedmetals orother substances capable of being condensed or precipitated.Theinodorousorpurified gasesorsmoke pass out through an opening, 0, atthe rear of the apparatus. The water containing the particles ofmetalflows through the screeirchamher over the partition-plate to the back ofthe tank, and thence downward to the front, where it deposits thesediment, consisting principally of metal particles. The pieces ofcharcoal or other fuel float on the top of the water, and are drawn orraked off from time to time. The sediment or precipitated matter isdrawn off, when desired, by raising the gates and allowing it to runinto settling-tanks. In view of the strong tendency of the hot fumes torise and force themselves through the nearest openings, it follows thatthey are properly distributed over the entire surface of the under sidesof the screens.

The partition-wall supporting one side of the screens is made verticallyadjustable, as described, so that the screens may be either horizontalor inclined at any desired angle. The screens are held between cleats orstripsf g on the end wall and adjustable board, as shown in Fig. l.

I am aware that a condenser for smeltingfurnaces has been provided witha sloping bottom for conducting the precipitated metals to adischarge-openin g at the lower end thereof. I am also aware of theexistence of a fumecondenserhavin g sieve-plates for retarding thepassage of the fumes through the same. Idisclaim these devices andconfine myself to the particular construction and combination of parts,whereby I attain better results than with any of the apparatusesheretofore known.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fume-condenser for metallurgical furnaces,the combination of awater-tank or main conden sing-chamber having a series of screens orforaminous plates and water inlet and outlet openings, and the inlet ordistributing chamber having a perforated plate and bottom openingscommunicating with the main chamber below the screen-plates thereof, asand for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the adjustable frame or transverse partition-boardand the superposed screens carried thereby, with the watertank ormainchamber having a locking device for said frame, and the inlet ordistributing chamber communicating with the main chamber, as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS N. DAVEY.

Witnesses:

PETER E. BLOW, R. F. BULER.

